Temporary visit to a US laboratory - Do I require a visa?

Hi,

I'm due to travel to the US to work in a biology lab for 3 weeks, but I'm unsure whether I require a visa or if I can travel on the Visa Waiver Program.

I'm a UK citizen, studying for my PhD. As mentioned it's been arranged for me to visit a lab (Cold Spring Harbor FYI), to learn an experiment.

I've received conflicting reports suggesting that I would require a J1 visa, a B1 visa, or that I do not require one at all (VWP). Can anyone help shed some light on this, please?

Many thanks,

Iain

PS. I'd also like to say it's great to find an immigration resource like this, I've been banging my head against a wall on this for a while now!

Hi, would the laboratory pay you anything (apart from expenses)?

No they wouldn't be. Sorry for the delay in replying it's been a pain trying to get this sorted.

Essentially if I wanted to apply for insurance from the lab I'm visiting I would require a J1 visa. As I am not (I am applying for insurance from my university in the UK) I can enter and "work" via the visa waiver program.

Iain